The transitional presidents of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have condemned the US toppling of President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, with which they have close ties, calling it an "act of aggression."

The Alliance of Sahel States, a bloc launched in 2023 by the three West African countries, "strongly condemns" Maduro's ouster, "which violated international law", it said in a statement.

They called on the United Nations Security Council to condemn the US action and work to restore "international legality" in Venezuela.

The statement was signed by Burkina Faso's leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, the alliance's current president, who had a meeting with Maduro in Moscow last year on the sidelines of celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of Russia's victory over Nazi Germany.

'Unacceptable interference'

It called US President Donald Trump's decision to capture Maduro "unacceptable interference" and an "act of aggression", voicing "solidarity with the Venezuelan people, whose sovereignty has been trampled upon."

US special forces seized Maduro and his wife on Saturday in Caracas and whisked them to New York to face trial on alleged drug and weaponry possession charges.

Maduro pleaded not guilty in a court appearance on Monday, saying he had been "kidnapped."